First, here's how I got here...
We arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday evening after getting the Narita Express to Tokyo Station and then jumping in a cab to the hotel in Akasaka. And that is where my problems started...
As I got into the cab I guess I twisted funny and felt a twinge in my lower back that I shrugged off at the time but which became sorer and sorer over the course of the evening. I went to bed and at about 3am attempted to go to the bathroom only to collapse from the pain and found myself unable to get up again. Michelle found me in that position a little while later and had to help me stand and then get back into the bed where I lay for 3 hours unable to get to sleep due to the discomfort I was in. I've never experienced anything quite like that before - not only was it extremely painful in the region of my back but I had strange shooting sensations down my right leg. And not in a good way either.
After dosing myself up with Alleve (4 pills in 3 hours vs. 1 every 8 hours as recommended) I was able to get myself to the NetSuite Japan office and attend a couple of hours of meetings wherein one our local partners recommended a great massage place that his family use. I made an appointment and went there just after lunch for a pretty painful session of shiatsu massage. Fortunately, at the end of that I was feeling alot better and could at least walk upright again. So, with instructions on how to take a bath, not to eat lunch the next day so they could complete the therapy and packed with heat pads on my feet and back they sent me on my way.
So, here I am pictured again at the massage place today at noon, having changed into the obligatory pyjamas and with my feet soaking in a bucket of hot water. This was the beginning of a 4 hour, yes 4 hour, massage session with a very strong woman and the 'Sensei of Pain' himself - an elderly Japanese man who you would probably offer to carry shopping for but whom is clearly amazingly strong - who were able to make me grimace with pain and almost cry as they proceeded to double team me in a shiatsu sandwich with a side helping of agony salad.
Once again though, it is the results that matter and although I physically beaten, bruised and drained at this point, it is clear that they know exactly what they are doing. And just in time, too - we have another 7 hour flight on to Singapore tomorrow. Wish me luck!
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